Category: Cycling

Sorry for being so quiet just lately, but there hasn’t really been anything of interest to write about.

I did something I have never done before, hence the post title, I did a sportive (bike ride event), on August 8.
I saw an article in one of the local papers, mentioning about this local cycle sportive (non competitive), about a month ago. It’s called The Farcycle FollyFest Sportive, this event is based near the Cotswolds and Berkshire Downs – which is a beautiful area to be in with its stunning scenery.
There are 3 routes on offer:

The Gentle Challenge – 35 miles of spectacular rolling Cotswold countryside; just enough to extend those who think cycling should be a relaxing, pleasurable experience,

The Full Monty – 70 miles of even more breath-taking countryside with some added challenges for people who cycle regularly,

The Epic Test – 111 miles with some serious bits although, if you can bear to press pause on your competitive streak for the odd minute here and there, the scenery of both the Downs and the Cotswolds is worth taking a peep at…

I did the 35 mile route.
As the time got closer to the event, the more nervous I got, as I didn’t really know what to expect – I know I have mentioned in earlier posts that I do cycle around at times, but to do an actual event thing, now that is a different kettle of fish.
Once I got there I started to relax, I had a chat with a couple of others taking part. We started at 10:30am, the weather was nice and sunny with a little amount of wind (just enough to keep the heat off). There was a feed station about half way round, which I stayed at for about 10 minutes before setting off again. I took it steady so not to struggle too much at the end, which seemed to work, as when I got to the end my legs felt fine, no jelly legs! Had some lunch – which was provided by the organisers.
I really enjoyed my experience, it was a shame I was on my own for most of it, would of liked to of had some company on the way round, but hey still had a smile on my face 🙂 It took me 2hrs 45mins in total to complete (that’s including the 10min rest at the feed station) so 2hrs 35mins in actual cycling.

Other news:
Next weekend (August 16) I’ll be racing again at Pembrey, looking forward to seeing how the updates to my car will be.

Sorry I didn’t post in July, I don’t know why, but I just didn’t seem to have time.

Well I decided that I would make July the month that I would cycle everyday except for 2 days – 1 of which is when I do my body pump. I did well, I managed to cycle on most days – admittedly my rides weren’t long, between 8-12 miles long, though I did do a 21 mile ride. There were also a couple of occassions where I didn’t ride my road bike – once I took my very old mountain bike out for a spin, due to having some meetings to go to and the roads to the places I needed to get to were pretty rough, the other time was when I was at the Vulpine Cycle Fete in London (The Lion pub in Hampton Wick), had I was made to go up against Matt Stephens (Former British Pro Cyclist) on the fixed gear static bike challenge (can’t remember what the actual name of it is), but I have to say I didn’t do too badly against Matt, I was only 5.5 secs slower, which considering I have never done it before, and I lost my rhythm at one point (I know I can’t really make excuses for not doing better, as I’m generally not that good) but I gave it go anyway 🙂

I also had a week off work just to chill, but some how ended up doing more stuff then I was planning, not that I’m complaining as the weather was beautiful, and I also spent some time with my best mate Ellie, which included having a swim in a private outdoor pool 🙂 well nice!

The last week of July I came down with a horrible cold, where I started off with a very sore throat, which then turned into going partially deaf (which at one point was quite painful), coughing so hard at times that I almost vomited, and having my nose alternate between being blocked or running :(. I’m now fine after a couple of weeks like it.

Now we are into August, all my weekends seem to be booked up with something going on.
The first weekend I went to a BBQ with some work collegues, which was nice and chilled, we had a couple of light showers during the day, but it didn’t stop us from sitting outside and enjoying the day 🙂
The weekend just gone I was helping out at the village summer teas – which happen every Sunday during June-September. I also managed to get back on my bike again and did a 17 mile ride.
This coming weekend I’m racing at Pembrey, which I will report back about. Hopefully everything will go well this time! But this week I’ll be testing my car at Llandow to give it a shake down.
The weekend after (the bank holiday weekend) is the Uffington White Horse Show, which I’ll be helping out at, doing car park duty and also manning the Church stall selling homemade cakes, jams, marmalade etc.

I think that’s it for now til after my race meeting, not long to wait now 🙂

Well not alot has happened, been for a few cycle rides early on in the month, trying out more hilly routes and distances, but haven’t been out much recently due to the wind and rain, and when it has been nice I’ve had other things already planned – damn it!

Well the title of my post is to do with me not being able to go racing at Pembrey on the 29-30th June. My car is 99% complete but the last couple of bits that were ordered haven’t arrive yet, so I’ve had to pull out of the race meeting – so gutted was so looking forward to getting back out again :(. My next race at Pembrey is in August, and I will make damn sure to be out for that one, but in the mean time I’ll be doing some testing.

Though I have done some racing this month, though in a kart. I did a 2 hour team endurance race – courtesy of work. There were 10 teams competing, and my team came 3rd (one step lower than last year though), but in the circumstances it was a great result. We (or rather I, as I did the qualifying) started 8th, which wasn’t where I expected to be, but I did get stopped so that my transponder could get change, and it was a very short session – so I blaming the lack of track time for my poor performance. We spent most of the race in 5th or 7th place, when I went out at the end for a 25 minute stint we were in 5th 1 lap down to 4th, so I did what any racing driver does and just went for it, all hell for leather, nothing to lose. After the checkered flag came out, I wasn’t expecting much, even though I overtook lots of times, and looked at the timing screen to find that my team had somehow got 3rd place 😀 I couldn’t believe it, I’m not complaining though. I was buzzing so much afterwards.

I really should get out in a kart more often, as I have so much fun racing them, though it would only be hire kart type events I do now, as my race kart is so old and out of spec, it would probably be put in the historic kart race now. But if anyone out there is willing to lend me a race kart to race, I’m all up for it! 🙂 This isn’t saying I don’t enjoy my car racing.

I can’t think of anything else at present, other than the usual stuff I do on a regular basis (ie. body pump, messy church)

Well May has certainly gone quick, with a few things of interest happening, as most of the time I’ve been at work.

The weather has been weird should of been warmer, though shouldn’t really complain as both bank holidays have been beautiful.

Right what have I been up to;

Well at the beginning of the month I was given the job of looking after a bearded dragon, and I will be looking after her for a few months, her name is Brody, and she’s such a cutie. She’s fed on mostly dark leafy greens with the occasional locust and wax worm – which are alive and wiggle and jump around lots.

I’ve been for a number of cycle rides, mostly short rides of 7.5-9 miles, the longest being 32 miles (this also included some steep evil hills) I’m sure it will get easier as I do them more often. Some of my rides have been with friends, but most of them have been solo rides.

I’m still doing my body pump, and still enjoying it 🙂

I’ve been helping out at Messy Church and youth club – these have been going for a while and will be on going, through the year. The village have just re-started Ignite – the christian youth club, lets see how well this goes and how many youngsters come along.

The bank holidays have been filled with house work, gardening and of course cycle rides.

Tonight I’m going to see what being a street pastor/prayer support volunteer is all about. At least the weather is nice with the sun shining and blue skies. Will let you know later.

I’m sure there are other things that have happened, but can’t remember them off the top of my head. Though if I remember I’ll shall blog about them.

The panto went very well, the audiences for each of the nights were great 🙂

On Friday I said I was going to a contra dance; I found out what it was – it’s an american version of the British/English barn dance. I had a fab time, even with so much spinning around to make you dizzy 🙂 I did 6 dances in total, they were quite energetic, so by the end of the evening I was quite tired.

I somehow caused quite a muscle strain in my right calf muscle – it still ached this morning, but has since stopped! but I suppose I haven’t helped myself by being energetic over the weekend as well, I did a stint on my rowing machine on Saturday, then a hour cycle ride on Sunday. I also did my body pump on Tuesday. I still don’t know why I put myself through so much abuse, but it somehow feels great to exercise.

Tonight I’m going to a discussion group, talking about Lent – it’s similar to the one I did just before Christmas – so hopefully it will be as sightful.

This Friday I’m going to Messy Church – which is a afternoon/early evening thing for the whole family, doing arts, crafts, cooking, singing, then having a social dinner there afterwards. 🙂

A few things have happened over the last couple of months, nothing particularly exciting mind you, but not totally boring either.

The week before Christmas I went to a couple of social functions;
On the 18th December – after doing body pump – I went to see Belshazzers Feast at the Thomas Hughes Memorial Hall in Uffington, they are well worth going to see, very funny banter inbetween songs :).
A few days later I went to the New Theatre in Oxford with the local youth club to see Starlight Express 🙂 I didn’t know what the story was about before going, or what to expect, but I thought it was pretty cool and is very worth going to see.

The Sunday before Christmas was the village carol service, which as always is well attended and has very community feel to it.

Christmas itself was a quiet one for me, just chilling out and not having to worry about anything really. New Year was kinda the same, though I did come down with a bad cold which lasted about 2 1/2 weeks or so.

I’ve done a lot of tidying up of the house – there is still lots to do before I’m happy with how things are, but trying to get my parents to do their bit is a struggle

I went for a short cycle ride at the beginning of January – only 7.5-8 miles – first time of the year and first time in 2 months. The weather hasn’t been kind for most part so far – with wind, rain, snow – so haven’t ventured out since, but have been going to body pump and having a go on my rowing machine.

Last weekend I went to the Bike Show at the Excel Centre in London with my best mate; it was pretty cool; and I brought myself a couple of jerseys too 🙂

Yesterday I got the writing part done on my angel tattoo; it’s now complete and is looking good 🙂 Now on to thinking of some other design ideas.

My race car is coming along nicely for the new season; it’s now a little black number, still a MG ZR but with an 1800 engine 🙂 I just hope I can race it and have some fabulous results.

On to some not so good news, I’m in a difficult period at work at the moment, with redundancies coming, so have been trying to see what else is around, but hoping that I’m not going to be one of the ones leaving 😦

Well I think that’s all the news for the time being folks. I know I say this a lot but I will try and write more often, when things happen, or are coming up.

How time flies! My last post was about Halloween, we’re now in December! Crazy! In all fairness not much has happened over the last month.

Though there are a couple of little things that I feel I should mention. I finally picked up my road bike – a nice little Trek Lexa S.
I haven’t been out on it much, due to it being a bit too cold and miserable, but I did do a 23 mile ride in early November with my best mate Ellie, we went from the top of Blowingstone Hill to Lambourn then into Wantage; where we stopped for a while to have a coffee from Costa and watched the Remembrance Day march; then from Wantage we went along the Wantage to Ashbury road to Kingston Lisle. We had a lovely lunch of sausage and chips – made by Ellie’s lovely mum. We then went to the Fox and Hounds for a quick drink, before having dinner; which was a lovely beef roast with all the trimmings – made by my lovely mum. So all in all a wonderful day 🙂

Other than that just the usual; body pump and working. I have been helping my mum tidy up the hobby room aka the spare bedroom, for the last few weekends, yes it’s that messy, but we are getting there with it; the next room will be my sister’s bedroom aka the other spare bedroom, hopefully that one shouldn’t be quite such a hard task.

I’ve just finished reading Stephen King – It. The book I found was a little slow to get into at first, but as the story progressed I found it very hard to put down. As per normal with a Stephen King novel, the descriptions were incredible, and it made you feel like you had actually live the lives of the main characters (kids to start off with who then became adults).

I have had my hair coloured again, this time with bright purple and orange stripes. I had it straighten when I had it done, but it has now gone back to its usual curls again.

There are a few activities that are coming up in the next few weeks, so I shall try to keep you posted when they happen.

Sorry about not blogging much recently, I’ve been so caught up in the Olympics – especially the cycling (road and track events), swimming – that I’ve neglected mentioning anything about my racing.

Well I’m off racing this Sunday (5th August) at Pembrey. So if there is anyone who wishes to come along and say hello you are more than welcome. It is a historic moment for the Welsh Sport & Saloon Championship at Pembrey, as for the first time there will be a maxed out grid of 32 cars. So please come along and hopefully I wont feel quite so bad about racing whilst the Olympics is on.

Not much else to report at present; other than the usual; body pump on Tuesday, and a cycle ride – yes I’ve actually been able to go out for a ride as the weather was nice. I seriously need a new bike though, I’ve been looking at a couple of bikes – one is a nice black trek bike which has the option of having either mountain bike or road tyres on it; the other is a Women’s Vuelta racing road bike in white – but I will have to get my finger out to get that one at a resaonable price though. If anyone has any ideas on bikes ie which ones are good but not too expensive etc then I would be more than happy for any advice.

My skin infection seems to of improved a lot, and the skin problem on my face has almost gone – I think I have to thank my best mate for introducing me to Sudocrem, that stuff has worked amazingly well on my face, thank you Ellie 🙂

I feel so much better now and I’m starting to feel more confident in doing things again. I even feel better after doing my exercises too, I did some interval training on my rowing machine on Saturday, I did a 9 mile cycle ride on Monday, which felt great, and today I’ve been to body pump, so far my body is feeling fine at the moment, no aches and pains from my antics 🙂

On the racing front I’ve entered the August race meeting on the 4th-5th at Pembrey, I may do some testing inbetween now and then, but we’ll see what happens.

I’m (hopefully if I can get things sorted) going to France on 21st-22nd July to meet up with my mate and her friend in Paris – for the final leg of the TdF 🙂

In October I’m going to see Les Miserable in London for my sister’s birthday treat, I’ve been wanting to see it for some time now, can’t wait to go.